“We got many compliments that loved the calm and peaceful time where they could create with their child and work at their own pace,” she said. Winiecki stressed that the low-key, unrushed feel of the event was a big part of its appeal. Providing stencils of the owl and eyes helped make it easier for kids to sketch out their project, as did having a sample painting projected on an overhead screen. To help the kids prepare, all flyers and other notifications that were sent home included a rendering of the owl. Owls for Valentine’s DayĬoolidge Elementary in Neenah, Wis., held a Valentine’s Day-theme event, which PTO president Nikki Winiecki said was a “huge success.” About 90 children participated in painting an owl with a heart (or circle) in the center. “In this current digital age when many adults and children interact more with their phones, it is amazing to see that art is still a very powerful tool in bringing people together and creating a positive experience.”Ī number of other schools have posted on our PTO and PTA Leaders & Volunteers Facebook group about their family paint nights. “My favorite part of teaching this event is observing the excitement of students and their parents interacting together while creating art,” Schmidt says. The PTO charges $15 per person for entry to the event and donates 20 percent of the total to the art department. Halfway through the night, they serve popcorn, milk, and juice while the background layer of the canvas dries. Three or four parent volunteers who aren’t painting help by handing out paper towels and paint. She also walks around to help the younger children, and she quizzes students about art terminology and gives them bracelets or other small prizes provided by the PTO for guessing the correct answers. Schmidt supplies the brushes.ĭigital citizenship FTW! Teach kids and parents what really matters for online safety I'M INTERESTEDĪt the event, Schmidt paints the picture at the front of the cafeteria, with her canvas projected onto a big screen from the stage for everyone to view easily. The PTO buys paint through the school and goes to a discount art store for inexpensive canvases Adams says the bigger the canvas, the easier it is for kids to paint-especially the younger children-and recommends buying canvases that are at least 9 inches by 12 inches or 16 inches. (There are 950 students total at the preK-5 school.)īefore the event, Schmidt creates a sample painting that’s easy for children of all ages to replicate. Paint nights have drawn more than 70 students. “This event has become a school favorite and an event that both students and their families look forward to,” Schmidt says. Another mom suggested asking Partin’s art teacher, Colleen Schmidt, to join in on the event. “I was looking for something new to do,” says PTO president Stephanie Adams, who had recently gone to some fun paint nights with friends when she thought of planning a kids’ version. ![]() ![]() ![]() The Partin Settlement Elementary PTO in Kissimmee, Fla., has hosted four popular Cookies and Canvas events and plans to do more. Across the country, lots of schools are making the most of a popular paint night trend and bringing students and their families together for evenings filled with art, treats, and fun.
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